Chapter 136 Out of Control
"Who wants to go home with you!"
What makes you think I like you?
"They would be willing to change their entire appearance for you!"
Li Rong brushed away his hand that was gripping her shoulder and grabbed his collar.
"I will never forget the convincing show you put on with that matchmaker, the sheep, that stole my heart!"
"At the time, I thought, what have I, Li Rong, done to deserve such a handsome, gentle, and considerate young master from a prominent family liking me and marrying me?"
"I'm so happy, I can laugh in my dreams."
"But they're all fake!!"
"You know perfectly well that what I care about most is my reputation!"
You know perfectly well that we're not a good match!
"But you still choose to force it!"
Why are you forcing it?
"Am I stupid? Are you stupid too?"
Why do you have to make me suffer?!
She cried harder and harder.
Lin Xiaocong raised his hand to touch her face, using his fingertips to wipe away her tears.
"Rongrong, we love each other, we have a child, and every day from now on will be sweet..."
She loosened her grip on his collar, took two steps back, and shook her head.
Do you think I would compromise because I like you?
"It was foolish of me to fall in love with you again and again."
“But I will absolutely not compromise!” she declared firmly.
"You drugged me and threatened me with my family!"
"I remember every single bad thing!"
"I would never leave myself in the North and cause potential trouble for my third sister."
His image was blurred by her tears.
She was laughing through her tears.
"What goes around comes around; no one escapes the wrath of Heaven."
"The current outcome is all retribution for provoking you in the first place."
She retreated step by step.
"Mingxu, whether you're truly in love or just playing around, it doesn't matter."
"I lost, I admit defeat."
When she was with him, she never called him by his name.
She took him to Li Fu's house, and in front of Li Fu, she simply referred to him as 'he'.
Lin Xiaocong never expected to hear her call his name under these circumstances.
She turned and left.
He stepped forward and tried to grab her arm.
"Rongrong~"
She noticed him approaching, turned around, and raised her arm.
The darkness could not conceal the sharp, cold glint of the crossbow in its sleeve.
Lin Xiaocong never expected that she would point the crossbow at him without hesitation.
The reaction was a beat too slow.
The crossbow bolt grazed his cheek.
The cold, numb nerve endings felt no pain, but warmth had already slid down.
For the first time, she had the upper hand over him.
He used the crossbow that he designed and taught her to use himself.
She left a bloody mark on his cheek.
The glaring blood on his cheek made her heart skip a beat.
But she didn't stop as she turned around; instead, she started running.
The scales in my heart always firmly tipped towards my family.
Even with a heart full of bitterness, she chose to bear it alone.
Cuiguo stepped forward, and Bingwei stepped forward as well.
Li Rong has already reloaded her crossbow.
But how could she outrun him, who was tall and had long legs?
He slipped one arm under her armpit, wrapped it around her waist, and pulled her tightly into his arms.
She struggled: "Let me go! Let me go!"
She attempted to attack him again with her hidden crossbow.
But he grabbed her arm.
He removed her crossbow from her sleeve.
Cui Guo hurriedly directed the guards: "Madam said that anyone who dares to offend the Second Miss will be killed without mercy!"
After Cui Guo finished speaking, she noticed that Young Master Lin Qi glanced at her.
She couldn't help but shiver and instinctively took a step back.
Lin Xiaocong held Li Rong tightly, preventing her from breaking free.
The guards had already partially surrounded them.
Li Rong: "Let me go, and I'll make sure they don't hurt you!"
Lin Xiaocong drew a soft sword from his waist with his other hand, cut off a piece of his sleeve, and covered Li Rong's eyes with it.
"Rongrong is wrong."
"If you obediently come with me, I might spare their lives."
Li Rong panicked instantly: "What are you going to do!"
"Naturally... get rid of the people in the way."
"Ah!" Li Rong screamed, "These are all my third sister's people!"
"If you dare touch them, I'll make you pay!"
Lin Xiaocong: "Then you're coming back with me!"
Li Rong cried, "I'm not going back. I'm going to find my mother and my third sister."
"A woman should stay with her husband and children. What kind of behavior is it to abandon her husband and children and cling to her family?"
"Let me go! Let me go!"
"Do you really want to force me to die to be happy?!"
He fastened her blindfold, grasped her wrists, and twirled his sword gracefully.
"Then let the three of us die together?"
He was paranoid and insane.
Li Rong hated herself for falling for his trick and walking right into his trap.
She tearfully pleaded, "I'll go back with you, just don't kill innocent people indiscriminately!"
Lin Xiaocong smiled with satisfaction, pulled her close, and lowered his head to plant a kiss on her lips.
"Good girl."
Li Rong developed a death wish.
“Cuiguo, go back and tell my third sister that I will definitely not cause her any trouble.”
Just then, Li Qu's voice came from the river.
"Second Sister."
*
Through the hazy fog, rows of warships approached.
Lin Xiaocong slipped one hand under Li Rong's armpit, lifted her up, and turned to leave.
He didn't want a direct conflict with Li Qu.
"Third Sister!" Li Rong called out anxiously.
"If Young Master Lin goes any further, my warships and crossbows will show no mercy!"
"We can't hurt you for fear of harming the rat, but your loyal little tail behind you will be in trouble."
Lin Xiaocong stopped, bent down to pick up the veil that had been blown to his feet by the wind, and put it on Li Rong's head.
It can at least provide some shelter from the drizzle.
Qiu Chan, who was holding two horses, quickly ran out of range.
With a whoosh, an arrow grazed his head and landed on the ground in front of him.
"Try taking another step."
If you want to get the other party, you have to exploit their weaknesses first.
"Shoot wherever the little tail moves, and you'll be rewarded if you hit it."
Qiu Chan immediately stood there with a gloomy face.
Lin Xiaocong tucked Li Rong closer to his side.
Smiling, she turned around and greeted Li Qu, who was standing at the bow of the boat.
"Madam Zhou, how have you been?"
*
On the river.
Torches stretched across the water, and the Zhou family flag fluttered in the wind and rain aboard the ship.
Li Qu stood at the bow of the boat, wearing a red cloak, her beauty and flamboyance striking.
The large umbrella shielded her from the drizzle that was blowing against her face.
She rested her hands on the gunwale and glanced at the endless night sky in the distance on the shore.
Finally, the gaze fell on Lin Xiaocong.
The letter she received yesterday was:
'My dear, come down ten miles to the north bank to pick up your second sister.'
She didn't plan to come in person.
I received another letter this afternoon.
'Young Master Lin travels south along the ancient road'
We arrived in Qizhou at noon today.
All the bodyguards were present.
'Huaiyan escorted your second sister ten miles downstream to the north bank'
Li Qu had met Lin Xiaocong twice.
Then I heard some details relayed by Li's mother and eldest sister.
You can tell this person is a smiling tiger, a master of deception.
She spoke up: "Young Master Lin, you entered Qi via the ancient road. Does Marquis Weiwu know of this?"
Intelligent people can always analyze the reasons behind things from the smallest details.
The ancient road leading into Qi is desolate and uninhabited, taking half a day to navigate.
Why did Lin Xiaocong choose the ancient path instead of taking the perfectly good, smooth road?
Mo Yue didn't want to meet his own father.
The attitude of the Marquis of Weiwu towards Li Rong was clearly laid bare before Li Qu.
Lin Xiaocong laughed: "I hate dealing with smart people the most."
"It's really boring."
“Madam Zhou, I have come to see my fiancée, Lady Huangfu.”
"When you get married, I will definitely send an invitation to Madam Zhou and invite you to come and have a drink at our wedding."
Li Qu: "Marquis Weiwu is a loyal and capable minister and general, upright and incorruptible."
"You've committed such a shameless act of self-deception, aren't you afraid of tarnishing your father's reputation?"
Lin Xiaocong has an extremely thick skin.
"No need for you to worry, Third Madam. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now."
"You cannot leave today."
"Does the Third Madam mean she's determined to separate us no matter what?"
“Your Marquis’s mansion will come to the Li family to propose marriage, with proper betrothal and a grand sedan chair carried by eight men. If my second sister is willing, I will bring a generous dowry and send her to the sedan chair.”
Granny Xu, who had just disembarked from the boat, arrived alone before Li Rong, wearing a straw raincoat, a bamboo hat, and a thick cloak.
Lin Xiaocong held onto Li Rong's hand tightly, letting Xu Mama put a thick cloak on Li Rong and change her into a more rainproof straw hat.
Finally, Granny Xu took a hand warmer from her bosom and put it into Li Rong's arms.
Lin Xiaocong kept a wary eye on the old woman.
At the same time, he knew that his negotiations with Li Qu had broken down.
Since the talks have broken down, it's best not to stay here any longer.
He placed the soft sword in his hand on the shoulder of Granny Xu, who was standing motionless to the side.
"Third Madam, shall we trade one little tail for another little tail?"
Li Qu calmly replied, "No rush."
Ke Lin Xiaocong was anxious.
He was afraid his father would come and ruin things.
He could still threaten his grandmother and mother with crying, making a scene, and even hanging himself.
His father was a ruthless man whom he would rather walk along desolate ancient roads than see.
I will definitely not let him have his way.
We must leave Qizhou as soon as possible and return to our grandmother's embrace.
What you fear most is what happens.
A roar came from the north wind:
"You traitor! Dad is here!"
The helper Li Qu hired has arrived.
Lin Xiaocong dropped the soft sword in his hand and wiped his face.
"Can someone else pressure me?"
*
Marquis Lin Zhongtian rode his horse into firing range.
Li Qu on the boat raised her hand.
The soldiers nocked their arrows and drew their bows; the sound of the taut strings was particularly jarring in the night.
She invited people here not to watch a melodramatic, tear-jerking spectacle of a couple being torn apart.
Li Qu: "Lin Xiaocong, you release my second sister, and I'll release your father and you. You've made a profit."
Lin Zhongtian drove his horse to Lin Xiaocong and reined it in.
The man's authoritative gaze was fixed on Li Qu, who was standing on the boat.
"The key to victory lies not in bravery, but in strategy."
"You little woman, you first sent a message to this old man, threatening me with my son's life."
"Now you're threatening my son with me."
"He was very cautious, staying in the army and refusing to disembark and take risks."
"Very clever."
Li Qu bowed respectfully from afar, saying, "Lord Weiwu, you flatter me."
"Your son has kidnapped my second sister, so I had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure."
"I just want to safely exchange for my second sister."
As soon as Li Qu finished speaking, the soldiers who had disembarked and were lying in wait on both banks surrounded Lin Xiaocong and his son from both sides.
Lin Zhongtian didn't move an inch.
The news that ten warships on the south bank had been moved to a location ten miles downstream had already been relayed to his desk by scouts.
He did not come alone.
The stars in the north gradually brightened.
The wind and rain were filled with the unpleasant smell of the most commonly used mixed animal and vegetable oils.
This type of fuel has strong adhesion and is suitable for burning on water.
Burning the ships is just right.
None of them are lone wolves.
However, it is clear that Lin Zhongtian does not want to have a conflict with the South Bank.
Therefore, I chose to get close enough to her range.
And the people on the south bank wouldn't take action against him without a reason.
Taking action... would have unpredictable consequences for both sides.
Lin Zhongtian casually rode his horse to Lin Xiaocong.
However, it blocked the path of Li Qu's arrow attack.
Granny Xu bowed to Lin Zhongtian.
"Zhou Shi Nu greets the Marquis."
Lin Zhongtian's gaze fell on Li Rong.
He glanced at her in the teahouse during the day.
She is a very pretty little girl.
He asked, "What is your relationship with the Crown Prince of Yan?"
Li Rong heard it, but ignored it.
Lin Zhongtian looked at his son, quite moved.
"The thing my father regrets most in his life."
"It's because I married your troublesome mother."
"I gave birth to a bunch of troublesome kids like you."
Lin Xiaocong smiled and said, "Father, this is Huangfu's daughter, whose given name is Rongrong."
"Master Huangfu's illegitimate daughter has a mental illness and was raised in seclusion since childhood, never to see anyone."
"My condition is fluctuating now, please forgive me, Father, for any rudeness I may have caused."
Li Rong: "My name is Li Rong, not Huangfu Rong."
Lin Xiaocong: "Look, she's having another episode."
Lin Zhongtian: "..."
"Father, since you've come in person, let's take her back for treatment first."
Lin Zhong dismounted and casually stood in front of them, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings.
"The fact that you were able to catch him means he's not very bright."
"A troublesome father + a not-so-bright mother."
"Let's have another troublesome and dim-witted grandson..."
Lin Zhongtian imagined the scene and seemed quite frightened, so he quickly waved his hand.
"Father does not approve of this marriage!"
"You should release him."
Lin Xiaocong: "Alright, I'll take the person back to the capital and return them to Master Huangfu."
"You're forcing me to embarrass you?" Lin Zhongtian turned his gaze to his son's face.
He glanced around with his chin: "With so many people watching, aren't you ashamed?"
"Can't a father grant his son's wish?"
Lin Zhongtian pointed to the twinkling lights that were appearing in the north.
There were also his trusted guards riding not far away.
“My Lin family is not just the Lin family of Lin Zhongtian.”
"Ordinary soldiers are one thing, but if you change the general, they will still fight to the death."
"But those families that are dependent on my Lin family."
"That Uncle Ma who secretly gave you the sword manual."
"Uncle Ma Zi, who always brings you snacks every time he comes back to Beijing."
"And Uncle Yao, who carved a set of wooden weapons for you."
"The eldest son of Uncle Ma, who secretly went to Tongchuan to teach you horseback riding..."
"If something happens to the Lin family, who among them will have a good end?"
Although there was no hysteria, each sentence, when put together, seemed to weigh a ton.
"We have a responsibility to them."
The elderly father put his hands on his hips, feeling awkward talking to his son about relationships, and walked to the side.
"If she were an ordinary woman, it wouldn't matter whether you married her or moved into her family."
"But her younger sister married into the Zhou family first."
“If she had married into the Lin family first, it would be her sister who is suffering now.”
"It can only be said that fate is cruel."
“A real man should not worry about not having a wife, Mingxu.”
“Grandmother, Mother, and Master Huangfu have all agreed to pretend to be blind,” Lin Xiaocong insisted.
"Including that one."
Lin Zhongtian looked at Lin Xiaocong: "Who is it?"
Lin Xiaocong took out a very strange jade pendant from his pocket.
The jade pendant is made of top-quality mutton-fat white jade, but a piece has been hollowed out in the middle.
Lin Zhongtian reached out and took it, then looked at the seal on the bottom.
The message sent by carrier pigeon from the capital has reached Qizhou.
He patted Lin Xiaocong on the shoulder: "No wonder he's my son!"
"Very promising, hahaha."
The stern yet loving old father tossed the jade pendant to his son.
"If you had said so earlier, I would have sent 20,000 men to snatch them back for you!"
"What do we do now?"
Lin Zhongtian pointed around.
"What if we fight with her sister?"
"Wouldn't she stab you to death with a hairpin in the middle of the night?"
The father outwardly agreed, but in reality, he still advised the couple to separate.
"Swords have no eyes. We're within range of her sister's arrows. Are we really going to fight to the death?"
"Then can you and... Rongrong still live a good life together?"
In short.
"Let's release them today and deal with them gradually later."
Once they're released, what future is there?
The key to solving this problem actually lies with Li Rong.
Lin Xiaocong looked at Li Rong: "Tell your third sister that we're going back to Qizhou City first."
"I'll go with you across the river to see her tomorrow, okay?"
He's even better at talking nonsense than Lin Zhongtian.
Li Rong looked at him quietly: "Can you let go of my hand?"
She seemed very tired, and her eyes looked weary as she looked at him.
"Let's go back to Qizhou City first. You need to rest."
He pulled her along and headed north.
"Autumn Cicada, hide behind the horse and protect yourself."
She did not resist, and staggered after him.
Apart from the two of them, everyone else remained still.
Just as Li Qu was preparing to take action, and Lin Zhongtian was preparing to embarrass his son.
Li Rong seized the opportunity, taking advantage of his momentary lapse in attention, and flung his hand away before turning around and picking up the soft sword from the ground.
As Lin Xiaocong turned around, the soft sword he had carelessly tossed on the ground was already across her neck.
"Rongrong!"
He had barely taken a step when blood gushed from the soft sword.
Lin Xiaocong's heart sank instantly.
She is most afraid of pain, yet least afraid of pain.
My heart was in my throat.
An unprecedented sense of loss of control suddenly overwhelmed me.
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